President: Jessie Keymel

Jessie was born in Oban, Scotland, and emigrated, with her family to Walworth in 1954. She graduated from Wayne Central School in 1957. Jessie worked as a Dental Assistant for more than 20 years. Her hobbies include knitting and Scottish Country dancing. Her husband is Roger, a current WHS board of trustees member. They have three sons, Robert, Chuck, and Bill, and three grandsons. Jessie and Roger also raise alpacas and own a Christmas tree farm.

Vice President: Bob Mogray, Jr.

Bob was born and raised in the town of Ontario, New York. He attended school and graduated from Wayne Central High School, also in Ontario, New York. Bob graduated from SUNY Cortland with degrees in chemistry and secondary education, while minoring in psychology and biology. With wife Kathy and son Michael, he has lived in Walworth for over 30 years. Bob has been employed by the Eastman Kodak Company as a chemical technician for 31 years. His hobbies include photography, music, movies, computers, and sports. He joined the WHS in 2005 and is also the current editor of the newsletter.

Secretary: Judy McMillan

Judy was born in Painesville, Ohio, and spent her childhood in Western Pennsylvania and Upstate New York. She graduated from Olean Business School and met her husband Larry at Eastman Kodak. They have three children and six grandchildren. Her favorite pastimes include gardening, antiques, singing in the church choir, and enjoying their old cobblestone home.

Treasurer: Mary Jane Devlin

Mary Jane was born in Rochester, but her mother grew up in Walworth and moved back to Walworth when she was about 3 years old. Mary Jane went to Walworth schools including 2 district schools until Walworth centralized and became Wayne Central from which she graduated. She attended a 1-year course at RBI and worked for Wayne Central School District from 1967 until 1979, when she became Food Service Director at Newark Central Schools. Mary Jane retired in 1991. Mary Jane lived in Walworth until 1957 when she moved to Marion. In 1965 she and her husband Arnold bought property from Stuart and Laura Huntley and built a home on Walworth-Marion Road where she currently lives.

Board of Trustees Member: Larry Ruth

Larry Ruth was born in Newmenstown, PA and with his family, moved to Germantown soon after. He attended elementary school in Fort Washington, PA and went to Upper Dublin High School also in PA. Larry attended Kutztown State Teacher’s College where he first earned a B.S. Degree and then a Master’s degree in Art Education.

Larry Ruth has lived in a variety of places after college graduation. First he lived in Webster, NY in 1963; Macedon, NY in 1970; Palmyra NY in 1972; and finally in Walworth, NY in 1975. He Married Jacqueline Frye in 1973 and they have four children; Joshua, Nathanael, Rachel, and Russell.

Larry began his teaching career at Sodus Central School in 1962 and then continued his teaching career at Wayne Central High School in 1964. He has been on the NEA/NY Board of Directors, the Walworth Planning Board, the Wayne County Planning Board, and the Walworth Historical Society Board of Directors. He is also a member of the sons of the American Legion, the Williamson Conservation and Sporting Club, and has written four books on the Carbine rifle.

Larry Ruth’s hobbies include collection and researching firearms and restoring military Jeeps.

Board of Trustees Member: Dorothy French

Dorothy was born in Webster and graduated from Webster High School. Her husband is Herman (Sonny), and they have seven children, 16 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They have lived in Walworth since 1991. Dorothy had worked for 26 years for Xerox and also for the Webster Herald and Webster Pennysaver. She is a member of the Walworth-Seely Public Library Board of Trustees and the Friends of WSPL. Her hobbies include genealogy research, writing, gardening, and reading.

Board of Trustees Member: Marlene Slocum

Marlene Slocum, a current Walworth Historical Society board member, was born in Irondequoit, New York. She attended school there until the fourth grade. She and her family moved to the Walworth, New York area and lived on the farm that is now G&S Orchards on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Lincoln Road. Marlene attended Wayne Central High School and went on to attend Rochester Business Institute where she studied to become a medical secretary.

Marlene married and had five children, two sons and three daughters. She has worked as a medical secretary for a gastroenterologist in the Rochester area at Highland Hospital. Some of her interests and hobbies are gardening, walking, reading, traveling, and canning fruits and vegetables. Marlene is also interested in music and serves as an usher for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Board of Trustees Member: Nancy Bel

Nancy was born in Rochester, New York, but was raised in Walworth. She attended Wayne Central School and was in the Class of 1957. Her husband is Leighton and they have been married for 50 years. Nancy has four children and 10 grandchildren. She is a Life Member of the Walworth Historical Society since 1985 as well as a trustee. She is also in charge of refreshments at most meetings and functions and does an excellent job.

Gene has lived in Walworth all of his life, except for being away for college and then in Sodus for about a year. His mother, Etta Bristol Bavis, was also a life-long resident of Walworth and his maternal grandmother (Sarah) was one of the Smith Hill Smith's.

He graduated from Wayne Central School in 1964 and then attended SUNY Oswego, earning a BA in 1969 and MS in 1971. Gene then returned to Wayne Central to teach Social Studies in February 1969, and stayed there until his retirement in 2000.

In 1966 he married Pamela Teeter from Palmyra. They had two children, Angela in 1971 and Jeffrey in 1974. Pam passed away on their 38th anniversary in 2004. Gene and his children all became Life Members of the Walworth Historical Society.

Board of Trustees Member: Becky Appleman

Although Becky has lived here in the Walworth area since she was four years old, she was born in Covington, Virginia. She attended and graduated from Wayne Central High School and worked for the Frieden Corporation for about 6 years. Becky then started a career with the U.S. Postal System that lasted for about 25 years. She and her husband Ray (Buzz), have two daughters, Sonia and Shannon, and six grandchildren. Becky enjoys gardening and helping to raise her six grandchildren as well as being active in the Walworth Fire Department Auxiliary, O.E.S., and the Walworth Historical Society.

Museum Curator: Kay Scott

Kay was born and raised on a farm in Red Creek, New York, and was the youngest of five girls. She graduated from Red Creek Central School and moved to Rochester where a job was waiting at Mandeville & King Seed Co. After that, she worked at Graflex Inc. Kay married John Scott in 1955 and they have two sons. In 1963 she went back to work at Rueby Process Co. and was their office manager for many years. Kay left in 1980 to become a “Professional Volunteer”. She and John have lived on Atlantic Avenue in Walworth since 1962.